City will ferry 'cross the Mersey no more

DEVONPORT'S trans- Mersey River ferry operator said yesterday that without some kind of financial boost the loss-making ferry would sail for the last time on June 27.

DEVONPORT'S trans- Mersey River ferry operator said yesterday that without some kind of financial boost the loss-making ferry would sail for the last time on June 27.

It would be sad end to Australia's longest continual running public ferry service which has been running for 160 years.

Phoenix Coaches owner Jan Bingley said it was sad to see the ferry go because of what it meant to Devonport.

"When we bought the company and bought 50 buses and one ferry I was more proud of the ferry but sadly we can't keep throwing money in the river," Mrs Bingley said.

Based on feedback Mrs Bingley has received most people understood why a commercial operator couldn't continue operating at a loss.

"It is iconic, it's quaint, it's a beautiful little ferry but it doesn't pay the bills and the costs are increasing every year to have the ferry in the water," Mrs Bingley said.

With wages and the cost of inspections and dry dock it took about $140,000 a year to keep the ferry in the water, she said.

Phoenix Coaches announced the end of the ferry service after the state government removed a fare subsidy worth $50,000 a year which had allowed the service to at least break even.

The state government has not responded to community cries for it to reinstate the ferry fare subsidy and subsidise the Devonport ferry service as it also subsidises public bus services. Devonport Mayor Steve Martin said recently that he had been seeking a meeting with Transport Minister Rene Hidding over the ferry situation.

Mrs Bingley said there had been no outcome from the mayor's visit to the bus company to talk about options for the ferry.

Mrs Bingley said she welcomed an idea suggested by a community member to have the ferry funded by the state government and the Devonport City Council to operate free for customers as a community service and a tourist attraction.